South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and South Africa at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi Proteas batter Aiden Markram. Picture: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP
To say that the Proteas’ One-Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan was a disappointment is an understatement, but just exactly what can South African cricket fans expect from the upcoming series against Ireland?
Firstly, there will be more time for the Proteas team to potentially find their groove with a longer series against the Irish. The series will feature two T20 Internationals (T20Is), and three ODIs.
Whether the outcome will be any different, will be difficult to predict as this is still an experimental Proteas group, selected for both the ODIs and T20Is.
After Afghanistan thumped the Proteas in the first two ODIs, Aiden Markram found form in the dead rubber. That will be cause for hope with such a short break between the series, with five days between the third ODI against Afghanistan and the first T20 against Ireland in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Andile Phehlukwayo is on fire 🔥🔥
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) September 22, 2024
Two wickets in an over for the all-rounder 😎
📺 Stream #SAvAFG on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#WozaNawe | #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/rMFL7lOriP
As the skipper of the T20 squad, Markram will be expected to set a good example against an Ireland team which will present a vastly different challenge to the tricky spin attack of Afghanistan.
Still, the major fragility of this Proteas side seems to be the batting lineup, and without Lungi Ngidi who was good against Afghanistan for the T20Is against Ireland, the other bowlers have a chance to shine.
Players like Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman and Nqaba Peter will have golden opportunities to strut their stuff for the Proteas.
For the ODIs against Ireland, it will be much the same story - the batsmen need to fire.
Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van Der Dussen and Kyle Verreynne will have to produce the goods. Again, much will be expected of Ngidi as he leads the attack, but one feels he will have plenty support in the longer white ball format against the Irish.
South Africa T20I squad against Ireland: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, and Lizaad Williams.
South Africa ODI squad against Ireland: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, and Lizaad Williams.